Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has attributed frequent power blackouts during rainy days to the country’s aging transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Speaking in an interiew with with Citizen TV, Wandayi explained that Kenya’s power network has weakened over time, making it vulnerable to harsh weather conditions.
“There are many causes of outages, but one of the main factors is our aging transmission and distribution infrastructure. It has become too weak to withstand the vagaries of weather,” he said.
The CS assured Kenyans that the government is taking steps to modernize the power grid to reduce outages. He called for patience as efforts to upgrade the system are being implemented.
“That is why we are investing in modernizing this infrastructure. We are doing it very consciously, and Kenyans must be patient with us. As a government, we understand the concern and are addressing it appropriately,” Wandayi stated.
During his vetting on August 3, 2024, before the Moses Wetang’ula-led Parliamentary Committee on Appointments, Wandayi had outlined his plan to address power outages, particularly in Western Kenya, which he described as one of the most affected regions.
He pledged to prioritize the expansion of electricity transmission lines to ensure reliable power supply.
“I will fast-track the development of transmission lines with the requisite capacity to evacuate power to consumers,” he said.
Wandayi further promised to complete and commission the Turkwel-Ortum-Kitale power line to enhance electricity supply in the region.
“In Western Kenya, I will ensure the Turkwel-Ortum-Kitale line is completed and commissioned in the shortest time possible,” he assured while responding to Pokot South MP David Pkosing.
